All skincare and cosmetic regimens are geared toward enhancing your natural beauty and reviving your skin from the inside out. There has been a huge shift in modern-day beauty standards. In today’s society, having a dusky skin tone is seen as a sign of good looks. But what really is dusky skin and how do you go about dusky skin tone?
Stay with us as we unveil everything that comes with a dusky skin tone!
What is a Dusky Skin Tone?
Dusky skin is a kind of skin that has a light brown color. Meaning it is a bit darker than fair but not fair really. Their skin color is due to the percentage of melanin in their skin. People with this skin tone have more melanin than light or fair skin people no matter their skin type. In simple terms, it can be described as a dark or brown skin tone.
As said before the color of this skin tone is due to the high percentage of melanin in the skin. Melanin happens to be a pigment in the human body that is found in the human hair, eye, and skin. And the fundamental rule about melanin is that the higher the percentage in the skin, the darker the color of the skin. And the lower the percentage of melanin in the skin, the lighter the skin color.
But it is the best skin complexion ever.
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Benefits of Dusky Skin
The love, quest, and struggle for light or fair skin tone are quite alarming in both Asian and African descent. Their passion for such a skin tone is driven by how beautiful the skin tone looks on the outside.
But they all fail to realize the premium that comes along with fair skin. Just like the proverb that says – (The Grass is Greener on the Other Side of the Fence).
The same ignorance has led some dusky skin people to devise ways and manners to whiten their skin complexion. But the truth is, it is rage, especially in India, to have fairer skin.
The reason is simple, and we will go through them all in a moment, but first, I want you to understand that there are quite a several advantages people with dusky skin tones have that people with fair skin don’t.
That being said, let’s dive into it!
# 1. More Melanin, Less Sunburn
People with fair skin, and people with this skin tone have more melanin. And one of the key benefits of melanin in our skin is the fact that it protects our skin from UV damage, (Ultraviolet radiation).
This makes our skin less prone to UV damage.
And this happens to be the main reason why fair skin peoples turn to always have problems, (sunburn), with their skin each time they are exposed to the sun (UV) light than those with dusky or dark skin tone, no matter how long they stay under the sun.
But I must say this very quickly!
Overexposure to UV radiation can greatly reduce or destroys the skin’s melanin content. So, you want to be careful and don’t make the mistake of thinking you don’t need sunscreen.
NO!
Apply your sunscreen if you have one. You don’t necessarily need it so badly at that moment, but it will help you in the long run.
# 2. Less Prone – to Skin Cancer
The next reason is that their skin is less exposed to skin cancer due to the multiple layers of melanin in their skin. More likely the dangerous types of skin cancers such as Squamous and melanoma skin cancer.
That is why on a very rare note will you ever find those types of skin cancers or conditions in the Indian people as well as the Africans.
But those with fair or light skin have fewer layers of melanin, and this makes them more exposed to skin cancer.
But the fact that your skin people are protected against these skin conditions does not mean they can’t get themselves checked from time to time.
NO!
You need to get yourselves checked from time to time because both Indians and Afro-Americans have recorded relatively higher mortality rates for those with these skin conditions (cancer), than Caucasians.
# 3. Slow Aging
Another benefit of this skin is that their skin ages quite slowly, which is a result of the fewer effects of UV light on their skin.
This is something you won’t find with fair skin people.
The lesser amount of melanin in their system and the sunburn effect on their skin make them age quite quickly.
# 4. Less Skin Blemish Problem
It is not easy to notice a blemish on this skin tone. So, if you have this skin tone, makeup is not a problem.
And you won’t have to spend big bugs and time trying to cover up blemishes and dark spots on your skin like light skin people.
# 5. No Need to Tan
The act of tanning is most common in women with fair skin. The process of tanning takes time and money respectively. But they will (without choice), spend the money just to give life to their veins once again.
But this skin tone gives life to the one behind it. It’s active and glowy at the same time. So, there is no need to waste all the time and money tanning to get what you already have naturally.
Now, this one is not an advantage, but more like a downside. People with this skin tone, their skin produces less Vitamin D.
And this is because of the fewer effects of sunlight on their skin, as a result of the presence of melanin in their cells which reduces the effect of sunlight on the skin.
Source – science-cosmetic.com
How Does Dusky Compare to Other Skin Tones?
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Dusky vs Fair Skin
Fair skin or white skin people quickly develop wrinkles and fine lines which is an early sign of aging, meanwhile, if your skin tone is dusky, you will rather start developing pigmentation as an early sign of aging.
And later on, wrinkles and fine lines start to pop up in great quantity as symptoms of advanced aging.
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Dusky vs Wheatish Skin
The wheatish skin complexion is said to be somewhere between fair and dusky complexion. Some people consider it to be light brown skin color.
The color of the wheatish skin is just like the one of wheat. Darker than the fair color, but lighter than the dusky complexion.
If there is any one of your parents with this skin complexion, chances are you may likely have it.
Meanwhile, the dusky complexion is in the dark brown category.
Dusky Skincare Tips
Yes, we have all seen the benefits of dusky skin and how powerful it is. But that doesn’t mean you don’t need to pay attention when it comes to taking care of your skin.
See those celebrities from Bollywood we talk about, do you see how gorgeous they look?
That is not because they were born beautiful, or simply because they were born dusky, but they all look the way they do because of the care they provide to their skin.
Now, when you scrape off the internet, you will find a countless amount of information and tips on how to take care of your skin, but the thing here is that all of these tips don’t apply to all skin tones, especially dark skin people.
This is not just about the skin complexion, but other factors like the cellular makeup and texture of dark skin are quite different from light or fair skin.
And again, it is important to know your undertone so you know what type of products to go for, and how to care for your skin. Because applying heavy foundation on a cool undertone will only end up in sunburn.
Let’s look at some of the tips that will help you take proper care of your skin tone.
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Be Careful with Powder
Like I said about loads of information on the internet, some people will advise you not to use it at all, while some will tell you to.
But the truth is, you can use powder but you want to be careful the way you do it.
The thing is, the dusky complexion naturally has an impeccable shine. But some people may not be ok with that shine and want to break it down a little to give their faces a unique look.
It’s not a bad idea!
But you don’t want to overdo it. Because too much powder makes the face looks clumpy, ashy, and cakey. You may very well use a little amount of powder on a face that is oily, or when places are humid to break down the shine if that is what you want.
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Moisturize the Right Way
Covering up your face all the time with makeup is not enough to get your skin where you want your skin to be. You need to moisturize and do it always.
You want to keep that in mind.
Failure to do so will only leave your skin dried up and with ashy patches.
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Watch Your Foundation
This one is a little complicated. Because most women always have issues finding the right foundation that compliments their skin tone, which is very imperative.
To do so is very simple!
It all begins with your skin tone. Get a shade that goes down well with your skin tone. Another thing you can do is dab a bit of it to your jawlines, then just step out to the sun for a while and see whether it looks ok on you.
If after doing this you still can’t find the right one for you, then you can do a custom foundation by mixing both a darker and a lighter foundation to give one.
- Even though liquid foundations are the best.
- But before you do the mixture, you first want to take note of these key points-
- Both foundations are from the same manufacturer
- They both have the same consistency
Again, some foundations in the market make dark skin look artificially lighter, plastic, and all made up. Though it is called “makeup”, you need it real, and well done.
So, this is what I recommend you do –
You need to blend a tinted moisturizer into your foundation. Make sure the tinted moisturizer goes well with your skin. The tint will get the foundation to fuse well into your skin. And the moisturizer in it will help the foundation to spread and absorb well into your skin keeping away every ugly patch.
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Exfoliate Regularly
As you enjoy breathing, so does your skin. A well-exfoliated skin allows your skincare products to move quietly, smoothly, and with a continuous motion all through your skin, and absorb better right into the skin.
But make sure you follow the rule of exfoliation for those with a dusky complexion.
Product Recommendation –
Sanitas Skincare Retinol Peeling Cream
Sanitas is a professional peeling cream. It will renew your skin making it look healthy and vibrant.
Natural Alternative
Alternatively, you can use some natural DIY recipes for that purpose. You can have some Curd and some Gram flower, or olive oil mixed with oven sugar. Use on your skin and rub using a circular motion.
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Mind your choice of blush
Yes, you ideally want to mind the blush you add to your make. Because when it comes to Makeup, a matching pair is an idea.
Sure, you don’t want to look like a masquerade.
So, you want to go for the blush that goes down well with your skin tone. This process can be a bit tricky, but the truth is, you need to keep away from the silver shimmer type of blushes. Because it will only leave your skin with this dry metallic look.
So, that being said, here are some blushes that will compliment your dusky complexion.
Pink is the recommendation for darker skin!
But if that doesn’t go well with your skin tone, these will –
- Warm oranges
- Wines
- Corals, and
- Plums
- Use Sunscreen
As mentioned above, the fact that your skin is not subject to sunburn does not mean you should not wear sunscreen. We all need sunscreen, including you. Because, Although it might not have a direct and immediate effect on your skin, it will in the long run.
Also, it reduces the melanin content of your skin. Don’t forget the risk of getting tanned, due to the high percentage of melanin as well.
Sunscreen recommendation –
Obagi Sun Shield Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen
It is fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and good for both UVB and UVA protection.
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Tackle Pimple Before Hand!
Acne has proven to be very friendly and common on dark skin. And when they finally leave, they leave spots remnants behind. These remnants, if not taken care of properly and on time, get worse and probably take our faces to another place. It is therefore a call for concern to want to avoid this acne or pimples pup up in the first place.
So, what do we do to avoid these pimples from popping up on our faces?
- The first thing is to cleanse the face daily. This helps to open up the pores of the skin
- Another thing is to remove your makeup before bedtime. This allows the skin cells to breathe well all through the night
- Again, try not to pick your pimples. Doing so will harass and oppress the face leaving a dark spot all over the pimple area
- Last but not least, make daily use of toner, and the right toner. This will help to exfoliate your skin, taking off all those accumulated gongs on your skin’s surface.
But in case you end up developing some pimples, then you immediately need to treat the remnants (scars), the moment they clear up.
But make sure you do so using a treatment that is approved by your dermatology.
So, you may want to consult one, if that is the case.
Yes, if you waste any time after the pimples are gone, the scars they leave behind will become thicker, and darker, due to the high amount of melanin, and even harder to do away with.
Recommendation –
(Filipino) Authentic Dalfour Beauty Gold Seal White Cream
It will help to reduce the visibility of the scars by lightening your spots. As if that is not enough, it will also help other skin conditions such as – freckles, melasma, and wrinkles.
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Use Mask
Dark skin quickly loses more moisture than the rest of the skin tone. So, keeping the skin hydrated and moisturized will help your skin from losing moisture.
To do so, you need to make use of a DIY mask once every week. It preps the skin and keeps it fresh.
Example
An example of a DIY face mask is a combination of egg white and honey. This combination will give your skin a more radiant look.
This is good and will work well for those with oily skin. But if you are a dry skin person, use egg York than egg white. It will work well for you.
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Are You Oily?
Darker skin people are more prone to oily skin. This skin condition puts a boundary between them and moisturization. Moisturizing only makes their skin oily the more.
Of course, nobody enjoys a greasy face!
So, if you are under the oily skin category, here are some natural tips to put this problem to rest. Get some magnesia milk, apply it to your face first, and give it some time to set. Followed by a moisturizer that is light and non-oily. This way, your skin will stay moisturized without looking glossy.
Learn More
How to Remove Wax FromYour Skin
Best Lipstick for Dusky Skin Tone
Your lipstick is also another added touch to your makeup. So, you want a lipstick that complements your skin tone.
That being said, light glosses, to my understanding, will be a perfect match.
Then again, something with an intense color will be a good complement to your skin tone.
But you don’t want to have anything to do with frosty and pearly finishes. They will only leave your lips looking dry & thin.
Best Dress’s Colors for Dusky Skin
Remember the proverb that says – (The world is full of colors even in the form of skin tone)!
But the truth is, the struggle for dress color per skin tone doesn’t matter. What matters to me is how well you put the pieces together and how you make them look to you.
Since the dusky complexion is more common among Indians and dark skin among Africans, we are going to be looking at some fantastic dresses that will soothe both dark dusky complexions.
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| Source – FashionMarket |
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Ivory
This dress color is an age-long evergreen color for every skin color and does perfectly well for dark skin color. Ivory does not show up, in contrast, it’s pretty simple, sober, and will always find a way to follow your skin tone. So, next time you go shopping, you may want to incorporate ivory into your collection.
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| Source – FashionMarket |
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Black
Though it’s black, it gives you this light look. No matter the type of black, you will always look gorgeous, especially for that late-night party. But when you chose to hang out in a black outfit, make sure to wear light makeup. This is to avoid an overdone look. You don’t want your looks to go out of the box.
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| Source – FashionMarket |
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Mustard Yellow
This is the color that will give your skin the glow that makes you stand out. Putting on this color dress makes you look and feel charming and complimentary.
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| Source – FashionMarket |
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Blue
Blue again is another evergreen color that will match any skin tone. It gives you this bold and confident look. But when the blue is lighter, it will give your look a more elegant and charming look.
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| Source – FashionMarket |
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Lavender
Lavender is a subtle but very elegant color that will enhance your color, giving you that sweet and simple look for a nicer event. It correlates with your skin tone and makes you stand out in that party crowd. But when you put on a lavender outfit, you need to match it up with heavy makeup. This way, the serenity and sweetness of your skin tone in this color are not hampered.
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| Source – FashionMarket |
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White
White makes your skin complexion look brighter today than yesterday. It is simple, it will never betray you and will go a long way to compliment your complexion. White is a color that goes down well with any skin tone. It’s good for everyone. If you are a fan of Oprah Winfrey, you will bear with me that for decades she has been wallowing in white and she never gets tired or out of looks. And the beautiful thing about it is that any one of them, be it snow-white, off-white, ivory, or ecru white will equally look wonderful on you. Picking up an off-shade may not be a bad idea, but it should not be too dull. Because it will make your skin tone dull as well.
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Source – Pinterest.com
Read More
How to Remove Glitters From Your Skin
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Orange
Orange is one color that fits perfectly for a deep or even a deeper complexion. It creates a very fine contrast in your skin tone giving you a fun-filled and striking look that will confidently and effortlessly catch the attention of the crowd. But I must say this – to maintain your charming skin tone, you need to stay away from an orange that is too dull or too bright when picking your outfit.
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| Source – FashionMarket |
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Maroon
Maroon, will you look stunning in black? It is a perfect replacement, for those who normally like black but prefer something different that will still give that stunning look. It will go down well on you at any ceremony. You can match it up with Silver or Golden accessories.
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| Source – FashionMarket |
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Red
This is also another color that goes down well with all skin tones. You can go for any shade of your choice as they will all do a wonderful to your skin tone. Taking a look at the red color on dusky skin gives you the impression that it was custom designed just for this skin tone. To throw an instant slash that lights up that beautiful face of yours, you can match it up with red lipstick.
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| Source – FashionMarket |
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Aubergine Purples
This is a very lovely color and a perfect match for a warm undertone. This makes it one of the best choices for you if your skin tone is dusky because its deeper shade fits well for skin warm undertone. So, you can go for an aubergine mixed with red. Overall, like said above, the colors or the struggle about which will go for me or not, is not too necessary. Just try out and pick the one that soothes your skin tone and makes you feel comfortable and confident inside.
You can as well come up with your unique combination by trying out different shades. Yes, it is good to go for what soothes your skin tone, but you are not in any way limited to your skin tone. You can wear anything of your choice, anything you enjoy but the truth is you just don’t want to look like a masquerade.
So, whatever you choose, throw some life into it.
How to Know If Your Skin Tone is Dusky & Your Undertone
Most people have problems placing their fingers on the difference between undertone and skin tone. Our skin Has two sides. Beneath and beyond. The color on the skin beneath is called undertone, it looks yellowish or olive. While the color of the skin beyond, the one we all can see, the one we try each day to make better with all sorts of beauty and skincare products, is called skin tone.
Permit to acknowledge here that, if you have a dusky complexion, you surely have a warm undertone and you look absolutely beautiful and gorgeous that way.
Trust me!
But there is quite a variety of skin tones amongst humans. Ranging from wheatish, and fair to the dusky complexion. Dusky is comparatively somehow darker than them all. It looks kind of ashen or light brown. It can be called ashen skin tone. Wheatish is not too dark, and not too fair. And the Fair happens to be the lightest of all skin tones.
So, if you still don’t know whether or not your skin tone is dusky, then you ideally want to take a look at pictures of some famous Bollywood actresses such as Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu, and Deepika Padukone.
These are all people whose skin tone is dusky. Once you can figure out your skin tone, is time to go for your undertone. Like I said before, if you have a dusky complexion, then you are likely to have a warm undertone. But how do you tell if you have a warm or cool undertone? To figure out your skin undertone is simple. Just take a look at your wrist, did you see that vein?
Good!
If that vein has a green color, then you have a warm undertone. But if that vein rather has the color purple or blue color, that is a sign of a cool undertone. But in case the vein has both colors, I mean green and blue, therefore your undertone is neutral.
But you should know that, just like our skin type, our skin tone is likely to change over time due to maybe sun exposure, or seasonal changes. But whether our skin tone changes or not, our undertone doesn’t. It is always the same.
Myths About Dusky Skin
The internet today is over-flooded with a tone of myths about dusky complexion and in this short walk, we are going to be looking at a few of them and why I call them myths.
Are you ready?
Let’s get started!
It all starts by saying “If you have a dusky skin tone” –
1. Nude makeup doesn’t work for you
Wear makeup that matches your skin tone, or is slightly darker than your skin tone. And it will look amazing.
2. Sunscreen is not needed
I don’t know where this is coming from. Please, don’t step out into the sun without wearing sunscreen. We all need sun protection, even those with a lot of melanin. So, make sure it’s SPF 50 and above especially here in Bombay you need sunscreen if it’s raining if it’s sunny if it’s c ld you need sunscreen if you’re stepping out.
3. Red lipstick is not good for you
please, a little too rubbish like this. Red lipstick is your best friend when it comes to a dusky complexion. I think there are so many beautiful deep reds you can wear deep maroon shapes they look so nice. Deep brick reds look so nice and please, don’t believe things like this.
4. Chai makes your skin complexion darker
This is ridiculous. Doesn’t matter how much or how many cups of chai you drink throughout the day. And it does not matter how dark, or strong, you drink your coffee you are going to be beautiful just the way you are.
5. Anti-aging isn’t necessary for you, but optional
Wow! I need anti-aging, you need anti-aging, it does not matter what complexion you are, make sure you start using it once you hit 25.
This is absolute bull crap!
6. Blush will not show on your skin
probably you are wearing something that is very frosty or something that is very pale. Wear something very warm, something that is deep. It’s always nice to match your blush and your lipstick. So, if you’re wearing a darker lip shade, you can go for a darker blush shade. And something like a coral shade that would show up something with a slight hint of gold dust in it.
7. Potatoes can help to lighten your skin complexion
This is something I’ve heard before because whenever people talk about underarm lighting, they talk about applying potatoes. They apply potatoes and they think this would help in bleaching your face. That’s not going to make any difference. First of all, your skin is beautiful – no matter what complexion it is.
So, it doesn’t matter.
Please do not apply potatoes on your face, please eat them if you want to / then yeah don’t apply raw potatoes this is again about eating if you have a dusky complexion eating something white makes you fairer. And besides, why would you want to change yourself?
No matter your dark skin – no matter your pale skin, you are beautiful just the way you are. Please, be comfortable with your skin type and with the way you were born. And just don’t listen to all this honestly.
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Conclusion
In time past, when we talk about beauty, we talked about lean girls with pale skin tones. But today, it’s a different ball game. The skin tone doesn’t matter.
Don’t get me wrong –
I am not trying to ignore the skin tone aspect when it comes to beauty!
But rather what I’m trying to say is that beauty today is all about what you do, with what you have, no matter your skin. It will do you a great deal of favor if you take these tips seriously, and make the best out of what you have.